Tonight's Movie: Rock, Pretty Baby (1956) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

ROCK, PRETTY BABY (1956) was a highly enjoyable discovery thanks to Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

I'd never heard of this movie from Universal Pictures, which was just released on Blu-ray, but was intrigued when I saw that names like Henry Mancini and Bobby Troup were behind the music.

I was also interested in the cast, which includes names like Fay Wray and Shelley Fabares.

John Saxon plays teenage Jimmy, who heads up a popular rock 'n roll combo looking to move up the ladder of musical success.

Jimmy's father (Edward Platt), a doctor, is concerned about Jimmy's "obsession" with music, preferring that Jimmy study medicine. Naturally, this causes some conflict, although in the end Jimmy's dad is a reasonable man who wants the best for his son.

Jimmy is encouraged when he meets pretty Joan (Luana Patten), daughter of a musician (Douglas Fowley); Joan has a passion for music herself and plans to study arranging. Through Joan's connections Jimmy's combo is able to enter a TV contest hosted by Johnny Grant.

There are bumps in Jimmy's relationships with both Joan and his father along the way, but as one expects, it all works out in the end...

I found ROCK, PRETTY BABY to be quite a fun 89 minutes. It's certainly not "art," per se -- more like an elevated OZZIE AND HARRIET episode -- but it definitely entertains. The script by Herbert Margolis and William Raynor is nicely constructed and moves the story along at a good clip, directed by Richard Bartlett, and the soundtrack is constantly hopping with bouncy music.

Although Sal Mineo is top billed, this is really John Saxon's movie. I'm fond of him, including his role in the later THE RELUCTANT DEBUTANTE (1958), and I liked him in this as the dedicated young man wrestling with the problems of growing up.

I also really enjoyed seeing Luana Patten, playing a fairly unique character. Joan isn't just a pretty face but Jimmy's equal, sharing his love or music and working on arrangements for the band. Joan also has the gumption to stand up for herself and not be pushed into doing things she doesn't want to do in order to "go along with the crowd." In short, she's an admirable young lady.

Patten, who was 18 when she made this, was a longtime Disney star, beginning with SONG OF THE SOUTH (1946) a decade earlier. Her five-film Disney association, which included a film I love, SO DEAR TO MY HEART (1948), continued until the year after this movie, concluding with JOHNNY TREMAIN (1957).

Patten was born and died in Long Beach, California, where I was born myself; sadly, she was only 57 when she passed away in 1996.

It's also fun to see Shelley Fabares as Jimmy's little sister; this was a couple years ahead of Fabares' appearance in the ANNETTE (1958) serial on THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB, not to mention THE DONNA REED SHOW (1958-64).

The inclusion of Johnny Grant, a longtime Southern California fixture, gives the movie a "Los Angeles" vibe. The cast also includes Sal Mineo, George "Foghorn" Winslow, Rod McKuen, and Walter Reed.

In addition to the enjoyable songs by Mancini and Troup, Sonny Burke wrote the title tune. McKuen cowrote one of the songs with Troup; another song was written by Phil Tuminello.

The Blu-ray print is from an HD master from a 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative. There's nothing particularly notable about the cinematography by George Robinson, but it's a nice, crisp print which is a pleasure to view.

Extras include a commentary track by David Del Valle; the trailer, newly remastered in 2K; and a gallery of five additional trailers for other films available from Kino Lorber.

I'm very appreciative of Kino Lorber making a relatively unknown film like ROCK, PRETTY BABY available for discovery by new audiences. I liked it and will enjoy it again in the future.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.

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Tonight's Movie: Crack in the World (1965) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

The engaging science fiction film CRACK IN THE WORLD (1965) has just been released by Kino Lorber Studio Classics as a Special Edition Blu-ray.

This spring was the film's 60th anniversary. I hadn't seen the movie since 2010, and especially after the last few years, the story of scientists selfishly doing a bad thing -- hoping that it will work out for good, despite warnings to the contrary -- resonated for me more than ever.

Dana Andrews plays Dr. Stephen Sorenson, who plans to harness energy from the earth's core for the benefit of the world. Unfortunately, when he sets off a nuclear explosion to crack through the earth's mantle and access magma, many thousands of people promptly die in earthquakes. If only he'd listened to Dr. Ted Rampion (Kieron Moore), who warned him of this folly...

But wait, there's more! Dr. Sorenson also has a deadly illness, which he hides from his much younger wife Maggie (Janette Scott). Maggie loves her husband, but Dr. Sorenson has lingering jealousy that she was once an item with the younger, handsome Dr. Rampion.

So just as Dr. Sorenson is effectively killing the world, he's also killing his marriage by pushing his wife away due to his terminal illness.

Can handsome young Dr. Rampion save the world from Dr. Sorenson's mess while also winning back Maggie? Stay tuned...

The plot is absurd for many reasons -- as I wrote in 2010, my daughter who studied geohazards was overcome with gales of laughter at various points -- yet for all of the silliness, it's somehow also a very good movie!

The overall story is quite unique, and viewers can always count on Andrews to give a part his all. The plot may be wild at times, including Sorenson's sudden need for dark glasses (?) and gloves, but Andrews plays it absolutely sincerely. Everything in Sorenson's world is dying, and Andrews is quite interesting in the role.

Scott is sweet as the young bride who genuinely loves her husband and can't understand why he's refusing to contemplate having a baby. She's genuinely hurt when he begins shutting her out, and it's understandable when she begins to turn back to her earlier love, Dr. Rampion. Maggie and Rampion are sympathetic characters, as evidenced by their reactions when they learn the truth about her husband's condition.  

The special effects are quite good, and the movie as a whole is visually engaging. I quoted RHSmith from the now-defunct TCM Movie Morlocks site in my review over 14 years ago, and what he said about the film is so charming I want to repeat it here, although there's no longer a link for it: "This is just a neat movie...It has Walkie Talkies and binoculars and Jeeps and helicopters and trains and laboratories full of gauges and dials and beakers full of colorful liquids, it has warheads and flame retardant suits and explosions and lava and just everything." And it's all great fun to look at!

This is quite an entertaining 96 minutes, directed by Andrew Marton and filmed by Manuel Berenguer. It was written by John Manchip White and Julian Zimet from White's story.

The very nice-looking Blu-ray print is from a new HD master from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative.

Kino Lorber's Special Edition release of this film includes a cardboard slipcase and reversible cover art; a commentary track by Gary Gerani; on-camera discussions with Tim Lucas and Stephen R. Bissette which run 70 minutes in total; and two trailers for other films available from Kino Lorber.

Sci-fi fans in particular will want to check this one out. It's great fun, and I recommend it.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.

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Tonight's Movie: Rhapsody in Blue (1945) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The Warner Archive Collection has just released an important new restoration of the George Gershwin biopic RHAPSODY IN BLUE (1945).

This new 161-minute print, restoring 12 newly discovered minutes, as well as the rarely seen 11-minute roadshow overture, debuted in April at the TCM Classic Film Festival.

I was unable to fit it in my festival schedule and am thrilled it's now been released on Blu-ray so it can be widely seen.

It's somewhat amazing to me, given that I'm a big fan of musicals, that I'd never seen RHAPSODY IN BLUE before. It was never a short film, and it's even longer now, but I found it enjoyable from start to end.

Despite the length, this tribute to composer Gershwin (Robert Alda) is somewhat light on plot, though it does include the usual '40s musical bio nonsense of working in not one but two make-believe romances for Gershwin; Joan Leslie (dubbed by Sally Sweetland) is a musical star and Alexis Smith an elegant divorcee he meets in Europe. (It's a fun side note that just a year later, Smith would play Cole Porter's wife in NIGHT AND DAY.)

Instead, after a brief look at Gershwin's childhood, the film mostly focuses on the steady progression of his career, which provides hooks for the performances of a great many songs from the Gershwin musical songbook, along with his concert compositions.

The most striking numbers for me were perhaps Gershwin's best-known pieces, "Rhapsody in Blue" and "An American in Paris." Alda's performance of "Rhapsody in Blue" was dubbed by Gershwin's good friend Oscar Levant, who appears in the film as himself. I especially loved the presentation of "An American in Paris" to a montage of Paris sights, as well as taxi drivers; it was perfect.

Several cast members play themselves, including not only Levant, but Al Jolson, George White, Hazel Scott, Rouben Mamoulian, and Paul Whiteman. Anne Brown, who played Bess in the original Broadway cast of PORGY AND BESS, sings a haunting rendition of "Summertime."

Morris Carnovsky and Rosemary DeCamp play Gershwin's parents, with Herbert Rudley and Julie Bishop as Ira and Lee Gershwin. As was so often the case, DeCamp played a character older than her actual age; she was only a little over three years older than her movie son, Alda.

Alda, in his film debut, does a nice job as the driven Gershwin, who seems to sense he's on a limited timeline; Gershwin was only 38 when he passed away due to a brain tumor. Alda manages to keep Gershwin likeable despite his constant focus on his career, often ignoring the (admittedly mythical) women in his life.

The multitalented Levant brings his usual wry humor to the film, which is welcome in what is otherwise a fairly serious musical drama. The cast also includes Charles Coburn, Albert Bassermann, Mickey Roth, and Darryl Hickman.

The movie was directed by Irving Rapper and filmed in black and white by Sol Polito. The screenplay was written by Howard Koch and Elliot Paul from a story by Sonya Levien; it was also worked on by uncredited writers including Clifford Odets and Robert Rossen.

The excellent restored Warner Archive Blu-ray print is a new 1080p HD master from a 4K scan of the original nitrate negative and "nitrate lavender" (that latter term was new to me).

Disc extras include the previously mentioned roadshow overture, which is set up to play before the film; the trailer; and a song selection menu, a nicety which is always greatly appreciated.

Classic film fans, and film history in general, owe a debt to the Warner Archive Collection for not only releasing beautiful Blu-ray prints, but in some cases restoring long-missing footage. In addition to RHAPSODY IN BLUE, other examples of Warner Archive releases with restored "found" footage include THE MAN I LOVE (1946) and THEY WON'T BELIEVE ME (1947).

Recommended.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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Quick Preview of TCM in August: Summer Under the Stars

It's time for a look ahead at this year's Summer Under the Stars lineup on Turner Classic Movies!

The full list of stars to be honored on TCM this August is now available.

Many of the titles to be shown have also been announced, although there are also a number of "TBA" gaps which will be filled in over the next few weeks.

Here's the list for August 2025:

August 1: Lana Turner

August 2: Christopher Plummer

August 3: Audrey Hepburn

August 4: Howard Keel

August 5: Claude Rains

August 6: Judy Garland

August 7: Ruby Dee

August 8: James Garner

August 9: Elizabeth Taylor

August 10: Clark Gable

August 11: Glenda Farrell

August 12: Pedro Armendariz

August 13: Shirley MacLaine

August 14: Sterling Hayden

August 15: Janet Leigh

August 16: Charles Bronson

August 17: Jennifer Jones

August 18: James Gleason

August 19: Hedy Lamarr

August 20: James Cagney

August 21: Patricia Neal

August 22: Frank Sinatra

August 23: Gina Lollobrigida

August 24: Henry Fonda

August 25: Shirley Jones

August 26: Tom Courtenay

August 27: Joan Crawford

August 28: Donald O'Connor

August 29: Alexis Smith

August 30: Kirk Douglas

August 31: Irene Dunne

O'Connor's day is a centennial celebration; he was born in Chicago on August 28, 1925. It's the first time he's been honored with a Summer Under the Stars day.

Additional names having a Summer Under the Stars day for the very first time are Plummer, Dee, Armendariz, Bronson, Gleason, Lollobrigida, and Courtenay.

In the meantime, July is right around the corner; the July Star of the Month will be a little different than the norm, with a themed "Ladies of the '80s" month.

Look for full details on Summer Under the Stars, as well as a schedule link, to be posted here around August 1st.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

...I'm back from a wonderful vacation! In the coming weeks I hope to share photos of some of the interesting movie locations we saw while on our road trip.

...August Blu-ray releases from Kino Lorber Studio Classics will include HUCKLEBERRY FINN (1931), THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER (1940), and a pre-Code double feature set with two films starring Sylvia Sidney. And "coming soon" will be the four-film French Noir Collection 2. The first French Noir Collection will be released at the end of July.

...Jim Hemphill of Indiewire has an article on silent film historian-organist Ben Model and his new book THE SILENT FILM UNIVERSE.

...A few weeks ago I reviewed THE ART OF CLASSIC CRIME AND MYSTERY MOVIES by Ed Hulse. While on vacation earlier this week I discovered that last year Hulse also wrote THE ART OF THE CLASSIC WESTERN MOVIE POSTER, which is now in my collection.

...This fall the Criterion Collection will release the animated Oscar winner FLOW (2024) in a variety of formats.

...The annual Barnes & Noble half-price Criterion Collection sale is reported to be set for June 27th.

...A new Westerns channel is coming to U.S. TV this fall.

...Here's Michael Lyons of Cartoon Research on the 30th annivesary of Disney's POCAHONTAS (1995).

...Jane Russell was born June 21, 1921. In honor of her birthday I'm posting the link to my 2021 review of Christina Rice's excellent Russell bio.

...Attention Southern Californians: The American Cinematheque's 70mm festival returns to the Egyptian and Aero Theatres July 3rd through August 4th. The schedule is here.

...Notable Passings: Another sad GENERAL HOSPITAL passing: Chris Robinson, who played Dr. Rick Webber in over a thousand episodes, has passed away at the age of 86. Robinson's costars Leslie Charleson and Denise Alexander passed away earlier this year, in January and March, respectively. Robinson is seen here with Charleson and Stuart Damon (on right), who passed in 2021...Pippa Scott, who will always be Lucy Edwards in THE SEARCHERS (1956) for me, has died at 90. Three cast members from THE SEARCHERS remain with us: Vera Miles, Patrick Wayne, and Lana Wood...Lynn Hamilton, a semiregular as Verdie on one of my favorite TV shows, THE WALTONS, has died at 95...Harris Yulin, a busy working actor for decades, has died at 87...Actor Jack Betts has died at 96.

...Please note that Around the Blogosphere This Week will not appear next week on Saturday, June 28th, when I'll again be traveling.  

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my June 7th column.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week...

...is taking this weekend off while I'm on my summer vacation.

The column will return on Saturday, June 21st.

For recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my June 7th column.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...The Warner Archive Collection has a great group of titles coming out on Blu-ray in late July, including THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON (1941), TWO WEEKS WITH LOVE (1950), BRIGHT LEAF (1950), THE PRISONER OF ZENDA (1952), KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE (1953), THE COBWEB (1955), and BRAINSTORM (1965).

...For a reminder of the Warner Archive Collection Blu-rays coming out at the end of June, the titles are listed at the top of this news roundup.

...Kino Lorber Studio Classics has firmed up the release date and extras for the Dark Side of Cinema XXVI collection. The set, which will include DR. BROADWAY (1942), SMOOTH AS SILK (1946), and THE GREAT GATSBY (1949), will be out on August 12th. THE GREAT GATSBY, starring Alan Ladd, was first announced last fall, and I'm very excited it will be available for U.S. home viewing at last. Set extras will include commentary tracks by Alan K. Rode, Jeremy Arnold, and Daniel Kremer.

...Colin has reviewed LAST OF THE COMANCHES (1953), starring Broderick Crawford and Barbara Hale, at Riding the High Country.

...Gary Wells of Vintage Leisure writes on "The Fleeting Glory of MOONLIGHTING." I've seen some episodes, such as "Atomic Shakespeare" and "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice," approaching half a dozen times over the years.

...The first teaser trailer for DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE (2025) is now available. It will be released theatrically September 12th.

...I enjoyed Jessica's Comet Over Hollywood review of WHAT'S COOKIN' (1942) and hope to see it at some point! The fun cast includes the Andrews Sisters, Gloria Jean, Charles Butterworth, and Woody Herman. What a combination!

...The Hallmark Channel has announced the sequel to its popular Christmas comedies HAUL OUT THE HOLLY (2022) and HAUL OUT THE HOLLY: LIT UP (2023) will be HAUL OUT THE HALLOWEEN (2025), airing this fall. Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, and the rest of the cast return.

...Notable Passings: Actress Joanne Gilbert (seen here) has passed on at the age of 92. Her films included RED GARTERS (1954). Her father, Ray Gilbert, composed Disney's immortal "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" for SONG OF THE SOUTH (1946)...Composer Arthur Hamilton has died at 98. His songs included the standard "Cry Me a River."

...Please note that Around the Blogosphere This Week will not appear next weekend, June 14th, when I will be on vacation. The column will resume on June 21st.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my May 31st column.

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TCM Star of the Month: Gary Cooper

The June Star of the Month on Turner Classic Movies is Gary Cooper.

Two dozen Cooper films plus a documentary will be shown on Wednesday evenings and into the early hours on Thursdays.

There are many wonderful movies on the schedule; my favorites include DESIRE (1936) and LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON (1957).

Please check out my full-length reviews at the hyperlinked titles listed on the schedule below.

June 4th

MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (1936)

THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1952)

THE ADVENTURES OF MARCO POLO (1938)

SERGEANT YORK (1941)

THE FOUNTAINHEAD (1949)

GARY COOPER: AMERICAN LIFE, AMERICAN LEGEND (1991)

June 11th

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS (1943)

MOROCCO (1930)

DESIRE (1936) (also here)

A FAREWELL TO ARMS (1932)

LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON (1957) (also here)

June 18th

HIGH NOON (1952)

THE HANGING TREE (1959)

FRIENDLY PERSUASION (1956)

TASK FORCE (1949)

DALLAS (1950)

SPRINGFIELD RIFLE (1952)

BRIGHT LEAF (1950)

June 25th

BLUEBEARD'S EIGHTH WIFE (1938) (also here)

BALL OF FIRE (1941)

MEET JOHN DOE (1941)

SARATOGA TRUNK (1945)

TODAY WE LIVE (1933)

THE WRECK OF THE MARY DEARE (1959)

IT'S A BIG COUNTRY (1951)

It's noteworthy that while DESIGN FOR LIVING (1933) isn't showing under the Star of the Month banner, it will air as one of this month's "Summer Romance" titles on Sunday, June 22nd. Fredric March and Miriam Hopkins costar with Cooper in this Lubitsch comedy.

There are a number of other excellent Cooper films which TCM won't be showing this month, and I'm linking the reviews below to encourage further exploration of Cooper's filmography. These titles encompass Westerns, adventure, suspense, and comedy, and all of them are available on DVD or Blu-ray.

Reviews: THE WINNING OF BARBARA WORTH (1929), THE LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER (1935), THE GENERAL DIED AT DAWN (1936), BEAU GESTE (1939), THE COWBOY AND THE LADY (1941), ALONG CAME JONES (1945), CLOAK AND DAGGER (1946), and YOU'RE IN THE NAVY NOW (1951).

YOU'RE IN THE NAVY NOW is an all-time favorite "movie comfort food" military comedy which I especially recommend.

I also found CLOAK AND DAGGER, which I recently saw for the first time, to be very underrated Fritz Lang.

For more on TCM in June 2025, please visit my posts TCM in June: Highlights and Quick Preview of TCM in June, along with TCM's online schedule.

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TCM in June: Highlights

It's time for a close look at the June schedule on Turner Classic Movies!

The June Star of the Month will be Gary Cooper. 24 films and a documentary will be shown on Wednesday evenings this month, beginning on June 4th.

I'll have a separate Star of the Month post available here in the near future.  (Update: Please visit my post TCM Star of the Month: Gary Cooper.)

The June Noir Alley films will be THE UNDERCOVER MAN (1949) on June 7th and 8th, CRACK-UP (1946) on June 14th-15th, PALE FLOWER (1964) on June 21st and 22nd, and SORRY, WRONG NUMBER (1948) on June 28th and 29th.

It's of note that THE UNDERCOVER MAN was written by Sydney Boehm, the screenwriter behind not one but two films I've reviewed this weekend, MYSTERY STREET (1950) and UNION STATION (1950).

On Friday evenings, the TCM Spotlight theme will be "The Art of the Con," featuring films such as THE LADY EVE (1941), MR. LUCKY (1943), and THE MUSIC MAN (1962).

Also look for Alicia Malone hosting "Summer Romance," showing a classic romantic comedy each Sunday in June.

Below are a few more highlights from this month's schedule. Please click any hyperlinked title for a full-length review.

...A centennial tribute to Tony Curtis on June 3rd will include SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957), which I very much recommend.

...There's a marvelous run of films directed by Vincente Minnelli on June 6th. All seven films are worthwhile, but I especially recommend the undervalued YOLANDA AND THE THIEF (1945), a film I've always loved. Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer perform one of my all-time favorite dance numbers, "Coffee Time," seen in this photo.

...One of my favorite silent movies, GIRL SHY (1934), will be shown on Silent Sunday Nights on June 8th. Harold Lloyd and Jobyna Ralston are a charming couple.

...Monday, June 9th, the schedule alternates films starring offscreen sisters Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland. I've seen all but one of the films and enjoyed them all; I particularly recommend Fontaine in THE CONSTANT NYMPH (1943), seen here, and de Havilland in HARD TO GET (1938). The latter film introduced the Warren-Mercer standard "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby," sung by Dick Powell.

...Another outstanding day of programming is Judy Garland's birthday on June 10th. Every film is a gem; my favorites are MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944) and THE HARVEY GIRLS (1946). But they're all deserving of attention!

...There's a wonderful day of suspense films on June 12th. I've seen every film in the lineup and they're all worthwhile, including THE NARROW MARGIN (1952), THE STRANGER (1946), and HIGH TIDE (1947), to name just a few.

...Father's Day on June 15th features Edward G. Robinson as Margaret O'Brien's father in OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES (1945). Be sure to also catch that day's "Summer Romance," the comedy MIDNIGHT (1939). MIDNIGHT is an all-time favorite.

...There's a full day of romances on June 16th, including the short "Streamliner" movie NIAGARA FALLS (1941), a film rarely seen on TCM, plus fun films like a pair of "summer resort" movies, HAVING WONDERFUL TIME (1938) and TWO WEEKS WITH LOVE (1950).

...Errol Flynn's June 20th birthday will be celebrated with a lineup including CRY WOLF (1947), which I just enjoyed seeing theatrically at this year's Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival in Palm Springs.

...One of my all-time favorite films, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954), will be shown on June 22nd. Also showing is the cute SEVEN SWEETHEARTS (1942) with Kathryn Grayson, Van Heflin, Marsha Hunt, and more.

...Another all-time favorite comedy, MERRILY WE LIVE (1938), is on June 23rd.

...One of my favorite days of the month is June 24th, with a lineup of extremely short movies. Titles include FOG OVER FRISCO (1934), which is 68 minutes; ARMORED CAR ROBBERY (1950), which runs 67 minutes; and THE AFFAIRS OF DOBIE GILLIS (1953), which is 72 minutes.

...TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR (1944), starring June Allyson, Gloria DeHaven, Van Johnson, and Tom Drake, is a charmer, including some great big band music performers. It's on June 26th.

...You won't find a better adventure film than KING SOLOMON'S MINES (1950), showing on June 29th. Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr star.

...The month wraps up on June 30th with the great RED RIVER (1948), starring John Wayne and a top cast, directed by Howard Hawks.

For more on TCM in June 2025, please visit my posts Quick Preview of TCM in June and TCM Star of the Month: Gary Cooper, along with TCM's online schedule.

Happy summer!

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Tonight's Movie: Union Station (1950) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

This is my weekend for favorite 1950 police procedurals!

Earlier this weekend I revisited MYSTERY STREET (1950), with Ricardo Montalban as a police detective; it was cowritten by Sydney Boehm.

Boehm, inspired by a story by Thomas Walsh, was also the solo screenwriter behind another longtime favorite, UNION STATION (1950), which I watched today. UNION STATION was recently released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber as part of the Dark Side of Cinema XXIV collection.

William Holden plays Lt. William Calhoun, stationed at Chicago's Union Station along with Inspector Donnelly (Barry Fitzgerald) and several other officers.

Joyce Willecombe (Nancy Olson), a sharp-eyed secretary, is riding on a Chicago-bound train when she notices a pair of men acting strangely; the men race their car to the station to board the train but once aboard take seats at opposite ends of the compartment. Most concerning: One of the men (Lyle Bettger) is concealing a gun.

The conductor (Harry Hayden) is skeptical when Joyce quietly informs him of her observations, but he does connect her with Lt. Calhoun when the train pulls into Chicago, on the off chance something nefarious is going on.

After Calhoun opens a suitcase Beacom (Bettger) stows in a locker, it becomes clear that the two men have kidnapped Lorna (Allene Roberts), the blind daughter of Joyce's wealthy employer (Herbert Heyes), and they're holding her for ransom. The race is on to save Lorna's life.

I first saw this film in 2009, thanks to Turner Classic Movies, and I had the chance to revisit it theatrically at last year's 2024 Noir City Hollywood Festival. It's held up to multiple repeat viewings over the years, a dynamic, fast-paced 81 minutes with excellent leads and a great setting.

Holden and Olson, who worked in four films together, are charming leads in a good story. They're backed by a host of interesting supporting actors; in addition to those mentioned above, the cast includes Jan Sterling (who coincidentally was in MYSTERY STREET), James Seay, Parley Baer, Byron Foulger, Trevor Bardette, Robert Cornthwaite, Dick Elliott, Douglas Spencer, Queenie Smith, Kasey Rogers, and more.

UNION STATION was directed by Rudolph Mate and filmed in black and white by Daniel L. Fapp.

UNION STATION is one of several Paramount Pictures films recently released by Kino Lorber which was previously released on Blu-ray and/or DVD by the now-defunct Olive Films. It's boxed in this set with the previously reviewed JENNIFER (1953) plus THE CROOKED CIRCLE (1957), which will be reviewed at a future date.

The excellent Blu-ray print is from an HD master by Paramount Pictures from a 4K scan. Sound quality is also strong.

Disc extras for UNION STATION include the trailer; two additional trailers for other films available from Kino Lorber; and an engaging commentary track by Alan K. Rode.

Rode covers all aspects of the film and its production, including sharing stories from Nancy Olson, whom he's interviewed on multiple occasions. The movie was filmed at Union Station in Los Angeles, and Rode mentions the series of screenings he hosted in the station of movies which filmed there; I was in attendance at the 2016 screening he hosted of CRISS CROSS (1949)!

For some additional thoughts and background on this film, please click over to my 2009 review. The film, disc, and set are all recommended.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.

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A Birthday Tribute to Joan Caulfield

Actress Joan Caulfield was born in New Jersey on June 1, 1922.

A modeling career led to the cover of Life Magazine at age 19, followed by success on Broadway.

Caulfield had come to the attention of producer-director George Abbott, who cast her in his stage production of BEAT THE BAND (1942), followed by a leading role in the Broadway hit KISS AND TELL (1943).

From Broadway it was soon on to Hollywood and Paramount Pictures, where she made her debut in a small part as herself in DUFFY'S TAVERN (1945), followed by MISS SUSIE SLAGLE'S (1946) with Veronica Lake and Sonny Tufts. She's seen here with Tufts:

I found her leading lady role opposite Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire in BLUE SKIES (1946) bland...

...but she was great fun in DEAR RUTH (1947) with William Holden.

I feel Caulfield comes off to best effect in movies which make use of her comedic talents; in addition to DEAR RUTH, she's very good in films such as MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE (1946) with Bob Hope or THE PETTY GIRL (1950) with Robert Cummings. Caufield and Cummings are seen here in the latter film:

I also enjoy her in more serious roles as the damsel in distress in the excellent crime films THE UNSUSPECTED (1947) and LARCENY (1948). She's seen here with Shelley Winters and John Payne in LARCENY:

Beginning in the early '50s most of Caufield's acting roles came on television, returning to films for the occasional Western, such as CATTLE KING (1963) opposite Robert Taylor:

Her last acting appearance came in a 1987 episode of MURDER, SHE WROTE called "Trouble in Eden."

Offscreen Joan Caulfield was married twice and had two sons, one from each marriage. She died in Los Angeles on June 18, 1991, at the age of 69. Her ashes are said to have been scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

Joan Caulfield films reviewed at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings: BLUE SKIES (1946), MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE (1946), VARIETY GIRL (1947), DEAR RUTH (1947), THE UNSUSPECTED (1947), WELCOME STRANGER (1947), LARCENY (1948) (also here), DEAR WIFE (1949), THE PETTY GIRL (1950), CATTLE KING (1963).

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